TODAY

The House Free Yoga and Meditation Classes

Meditation 11 a.m. to noon, Yoga 2 to 3 p.m.

TB-16

The House Peer Counseling Center is offering free yoga and meditation classes for students. Take advantage and relax!

Newman Catholic Community Mass on Campus

Noon

5 Lower Freeborn

Join the Newman Catholic community for mass.

WEDNESDAY

Student Recruitment & Retention Center Open House

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

16 South Hall

This year’s open house will have a monster mash theme! Enjoy Guadalajara’s for the main course along with fruit and veggie platters, cotton candy, fruit punch in a spooky cauldron, horchata and cakes. Meet the staff, take a tour and learn more about the SRRC’s services.

Transfer Reentry Veteran Center Scholarship Writing Workshop

3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

1226 Dutton Hall

The TRV Center presents a workshop for students seeking aid in paying for college. Go to this annual event to learn how to competitively write for scholarships.

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous

7 to 8:30 p.m.

Davis United Methodist Church, 1620 Anderson Road

Having trouble controlling the way you eat? Free yourself from excess weight and obsessive thoughts about food and body image. Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous is a 12-step fellowship based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

To receive placement in the AGGIE DAILY CALENDAR, e-mail dailycal@theaggie.org or stop by 25 Lower Freeborn by noon the day prior to your event. Due to space constraints, all event descriptions are subject to editing, and priority will be given to events that are free of charge and geared toward the campus community.

Sleepy Feet, a five-person indie folk band from Claremont, Calif., performed on the Quad Monday afternoon as part of the Quad Show series hosted by Entertainment Council.

The drum-backed band played for a crowd of about 50, who lounged in the sun despite encouragement from band members to dance.

“They’re dancing in their heads,” said banjo mechanic Will Harris.

Despite their chill exterior, students said they enjoyed the music.

“It’s cool to walk out of class and hear music. I was surprised,” said senior sociology major Claire Ackland, while reclining on the grass. “I feel bad that people aren’t clapping. I think they’re really good.”

– Becky Peterson

On the eve of senior psychology major Karishma Raghuwanshi’s 21st birthday, she enjoyed a late dinner with close friends at Burgers and Brew. As they lounged and ate, Raghuwanshi eagerly waited for the clock to strike midnight so she could finally order her first drink.

At midnight the bartender treated Raghuwanshi to a celebratory birthday drink, and her exploration of the Davis bar and nightlife scene began.

“After dinner we went to Café Bernardo for Wikis, Sophia’s Thai Kitchen and Little Prague,” Raghuwanshi said. “It was really crazy and fun.”

Turning 21 is a big deal. After years of waiting, a whole new world of convenience and nightlife is accessible. It’s a rite of passage that allows one to finally go to the store to fill their basket with the alcohol of their choice, order a drink at dinner and go to the bars.

What is one suppose to do on their 21st birthday in Davis? Go on a bar crawl, of course. A bar or pub crawl is the act of one or more people drinking in multiple bars or pubs in a single night.

“You have to go to all of the bars,” Raghuwanshi said. “The Davis Beer Shoppe and Froggy’s are good previews before the bars because they’re really chill and laid-back compared to other places that have a lot of dancing.”

The bars in Davis vary from “laid-back dive bars” to bars that transform into night clubs complete with professional sound systems, lighting effects and a variety of DJs.

For the birthday person there is an endless amount of drinks to choose from, and many of the bars have signature drinks.

“Froggy’s Right Hook, Bruce’s Special at Little Prague, mojitos at Bistro 33 and Scooby Snacks at Sophia’s are all really good,” Raghuwanshi said. “If you want to hardcore pre-game, Wikis from Café Bernardo are a must.”

If a laid-back environment is desired, Sophia’s dim-lit bar, complete with an outdoor patio, is a good place to start a 21st birthday.

“It’s a great place to hang out because you can be here when there are five people or 200 and either way you can still find a private area,” Sophia’s owner and booking manager Kevin Wan said.

Sophia’s offers a free cover charge for the birthday person, and they have a “shot wheel” that the birthday person can spin to receive a free drink, provided that someone in their group buys a drink.

Wan also recommended trying the “Thai Breaker.”

“It’s a good drink to start off your night because it has six types of rum and it’s our strongest drink,” Wan said.

Sophia’s offers a “chill” lounge-like vibe, complete with wicker furniture and a fish tank, that’s perfect for starting any bar crawl.

After a relaxing start, no birthday is complete without a little dancing. KetMoRee offers a club-like experience for birthday celebrators.

“We have the largest dance floor in Davis,” KetMoRee bar manager Sandeep Dahal said. “On someone’s birthday the bartenders are allowed to make the guest a strong shooter, we stamp them on the forehead on their way in and we try to make them feel special.”

KetMoRee’s signature drink is the “Full Moon Party Bowl,” which is a 60 oz. martini glass full of different rums and juices, including fresh watermelon juice that’s juiced in-house, Dahal said.

“It’s best enjoyed with a friend or two,” Dahal said. “It’s inspired by the Full Moon Festival in Thailand where people bring alcohol to the festival and put it in steel drums to share.”

KetMoRee offers a daily happy hour that is from 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 to 10 p.m.

“You don’t have to go out of Davis for the club feel,” Dahal said. “It’s definitely a stop you have to make on your tour of the bars.”

Another stop on a 21st birthday bar crawl is Tres Hermanas. With an extensive tequila selection and festive Mexican décor, Tres Hermanas has a fun, lively atmosphere.

“It’s a huge compliment when people come here on their 21st, but it’s also a responsibility because we don’t want to over-serve someone,” said Tres Hermanas owner Sergio Saenz.

Birthday guests are welcomed with a forehead stamp and specialty drinks. Women receive a drink that’s made with Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlúa and is topped off with whipped cream, which is then drank without using their hands.

“Loaded Coronas” are one of Tres Hermanas’ specialty drinks, which is a Corona beer with a squeeze of lime and topped off with tequila, Saenz said.

“It’s a very social place. Everyone hangs out with each other inside and on the patio,” Saenz said. “We have the best dance floor in town, really good bartenders and fun, respectful bouncers.”

No matter what someone does on their 21st birthday, Raghuwanshi, Saenz and Wan agreed that a bar crawl is a must.

“Have a good time, but don’t overdue it,” Saenz said. “You’re only 21 once. After that, birthdays don’t really matter, so you want to remember it.”

CASEY SPECHT can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

In Review: Paesanos

Hours: Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Food: ***

Ambience: ****

Cost: $

Key

Food and ambience quality

**** I’m dining here every day

*** Almost like eating at home

** Better than my roommate’s cooking

* Only if I’m starving

Budget

$$ chancellor $20+

$$ professor $15-20

$ graduate student/alum $10-15

$ undergraduate $5-10

There’s something to be said for a classy restaurant that not only boasts a great happy hour and a variety of unique and delicious appetizers and entrees, but is also conveniently located in the heart of downtown, making it an easy walking distance to every movie theater and bar Davis has to offer.

The new Italian eatery Paesanos opened in early September, making it the third location in addition to the Sacramento and Elk Grove sites. When I heard that the owners were opening up a new location in Davis, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I’d make the time to try out Paesanos for myself. I rallied an admittedly large and obvious group of friends who were more than happy to grub and stake out a new restaurant with me, and made reservations for a Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.

That night, after anticipating dinner all day, a few of us decided we couldn’t wait to blow off steam after our long week and headed to the restaurant an hour earlier to catch the happy hour specials. Since it was my first time in the restaurant, I couldn’t help but appreciate the ambience. The walls had a tasteful selection of Italian-themed art all the way up to the refreshingly high ceilings, and the brown tones and soft lighting made it an instantly comfortable dining environment. The service, too, was pleasant right off the bat. Although it was clearly a peak hour of business when we arrived, the hosting staff was more than polite, seating us close to the bar and managing to take orders and serve us our drinks and appetizers before the specials ended at 6 p.m.

Paesanos’ happy hour menu includes all of the cocktails, wines and draft beers it usually offers, but for around half of the regular price. A few favorites were the watermelon lemonade ($4), sangria ($4 for a large glass) and the Island Girl Martini ($3).

Appetizers (all $4 each) took around 15 minutes to arrive, but when they did, we were more than satisfied with our hearty portions of deep fried, salty snacks that did more than just curb our appetites before dinner. The fried ravioli dish came with around 10 crispy pockets of spinach and cheese with marinara sauce on the side for dipping. We also ordered two plates of polenta fries, which were lightly fried on the outside and softer on the inside and served with balsamic ketchup and a gorgonzola cheese sauce for dipping. Both appetizers were unlike anything I’d eaten before, and unusually filling. We could have easily split one of each among six people, but even with everyone ordering their own, each tab only came out to around eight dollars. Not bad at all for a good drink and a full stomach.

The hostess moved our group from the bar to a long table promptly at 6:30 p.m. and orders were taken by 6:45 p.m. After the waiter took our orders, rosmary focaccia bread was served for the whole table, with balsamic vinegar and garlic pieces on the side.

Although the appetizers and breadbaskets were delicious, the length of time it took for our entrees to be brought out was a bit disappointing. By the time everyone was served, it was 7:45 p.m., and few of us had any room to enjoy the supposed highlight of our meal. Truthfully, the majority of the main courses were packed up in Styrofoam boxes and consumed later in the night, but we did, slowly, get to taste a sufficient amount of dishes to get an idea of the range of the whole menu.

The handful of us that ordered sandwiches were pleased by the unique flavors. They could have been bigger for the price, but each did come with a nice portion of side salad. I ordered the Tacchino ($8.95), which came with deli turkey meat, sweet balsamic onions and Swiss cheese, definitely something I would order again.

Paesanos also offers a ton of tasty options for personal pizzas, from the Mushroom Formaggio ($10.95), which was a deliciously cheesy treat topped with huge slices of two types of mushrooms, to the Gorgonzola and Fuji Apple Pizza (also $10.95).

The pasta dishes, which seemed to be the kitchen specialty, were huge and served with garlic bread on the side. Gemelli Spinaci ($9.95) was a good, hearty portion of pasta twists on a bed of spinach with garlic cream sauce. The Pork Fusili (also $9.95) was intensely flavored gingery braised pork served with pasta twists. The Spicy Creole ($10.95) was a different type of spicy, but still tasty, complete with shrimp, chicken, ham and sausage.

A particular favorite of the night was the Caribbean Salmon Salad ($10.95). It was decently priced for a seafood dish, with seared salmon, mangoes, goat cheese and candied pecans. Unlike the side salads that came with the sandwiches, the salad seemed very freshly tossed, and not at all soggy. A few bites made me sure of what I would order to eat upon my next visit.

In review, we found that while Paesanos offers quite the delectable assortment of entrees, the slow service doesn’t really leave room to showcase them, as they are overshadowed by their appetizers and their overflowing supply of free bread. But I found Paesanos to be a great place to begin a night out with good friends, unwind during happy hour and enjoy some unique Italian-inspired food.

LANI CHAN can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

Dear Gabby,

I’m not sure what to do for the Halloween weekend. I’ve heard rumors about the block parties and Radcliffe being really toned down or a straight-up no-go this year and I’ve never been in Davis for Halloween.  Are they worth checking out?  Any alternatives you might suggest?

– Joeyboi

Dear Joeyboi,

Halloween is decidedly the most anticipated holiday (for college students) of the year for several reasons. The main reason is, of course, being able to disguise yourself as literally anything and getting away with it. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most unanticipated holidays of the year for the Davis Police Department and neighbors who don’t appreciate their streets being covered in red plastic cups. Because things can reach whole new levels of chaotic on this night, police officers are ready to roll a party at the drop of a mask. So if you want to go to a party, get there before the cops do.

The opinions about Radcliff Drive change from person to person – some say it’s awesome and some say it’s a waste of time. I say if you’ve never done it before you should check it out at least once and come to your own conclusions. It is, after all, a Davis tradition, and chances are you’ll only be there for 20 minutes before the cops make an appearance, anyway. Personally, I like going because you run into people you didn’t expect to see, some of the costumes are hilarious, some are gross and creepy and after hanging out there for a bit, I leave and hit up the next party. If you have the luxury of being 21+ then you can scope out the bars downtown. A couple of reminders I’ll leave you with: Don’t walk around outside with an open container (especially if you’re not 21 yet) because a cop will stop you and a $300 ticket will suck. Forget the “plan” of going to 10 different places and instead just go with the flow – it’s Halloween, not a guided tour of the town. Finally, go to the costume store now. Before you know it the 29th rolls around and you’ll find yourself scrounging for the scraps. If all of the above doesn’t suit your liking, you can always buy a plastic hollow pumpkin and go trick-or-treating!

Dear Gabby,

I will be graduating this June and most likely leaving Davis forever. I’ve been on a few dates with a really cute, smart guy and I think there might be potential. I don’t want to get too involved and attached, but I also don’t want to keep things between us super casual. What should I do?

-Broken up or Broken Hearted

Dear Broken up or Broken Hearted,

I say go for it! It’s your senior year, graduation is right around the corner, the real world is anticipating your arrival and the possibility of a little romance lingers. If you are emotionally strong and can stay relatively detached from someone, or if you’re somehow immune to heartache, then you should release your inhibitions and have fun. Don’t ruin possible romance with, “What if things don’t work out,” “I’m moving back home in the summer” and “I don’t want to fall in love right now” because one, it’s a clichéd cop-out, and two, falling in and out of love is part of life. It’s part of the real world and in eight months you will be thrown gently tossed into that world. Don’t go into a relationship with high expectations. Enjoy the Yoloberry dates, Arboretum picnics, Farmers Market outings and the study (a.k.a make-out) sessions. I can’t say that you and this guy will live happily ever after, but I can say that waking up in someone’s arms on a cold winter morning before the alarm clock goes off is way better than waking up cold and late for class. Davis has seen some pretty cold winters so maybe this smart cutie showed up just in time. Try not to think about problems that don’t exist. Whether you choose to give this a shot or choose to go your separate ways before things get intense, enjoy your senior year and finish your undergraduate career with a bang! You’ll make the right choice; you’re a smart Aggie.

Got a question for Gabby? E-mail ucdeargabby@gmail.com.